Humic acid-nanoceria composite as a sustainable adsorbent for simultaneous removal of uranium(VI), chromium(VI), and fluoride ions from aqueous solutions.

In this article, the multifunctional behavior of novel, efficient, and cost-effective humic acid-coated nanoceria (HA@CeO2 NPs) was utilized for the sorptive removal of U(VI), Cr(VI), and F- ions at different conditions. The production cost of HA@CeO2 was $19.28/kg and was well characterized by DLS, FESEM, HRTEM, FTIR, XRD, XPS, and TGA. Batch adsorption study for U(VI) (at pH ~ 8), Cr(VI) (at pH ~ 1), and F- (at pH ~ 2) revealed that the maximum percentage of sorption was > 80% for all the cases. From the contact time experiment, it was concluded that pseudo-second-order kinetics followed, and hence, the process should be a chemisorption. The adsorption study revealed that U(VI) and Cr(VI) followed the Freundlich isotherm, whereas F- followed the Langmuir isotherm. Maximum adsorption capacity for F- was 96 mg g-1. Experiments in real water suggest that adsorption is decreased in Kaljani River water (~ 12% for Cr(VI) and ~ 11% for F-) and Kochbihar Lake water (25.04% for Cr(VI) and 20.5% for F-) because of competing ion effect. Mechanism was well established by the kinetic study as well as XPS analysis. Because of high adsorption efficiency, HA@CeO2 NPs can be used for the removal of other harmful water contaminants to make healthy aquatic life as well as purified drinking water.

Adsorptive Elimination of a Cationic Dye and a Hg (II)-Containing Antiseptic from Simulated Wastewater Using a Metal Organic Framework.

Several types of pollutants have acute adverse effects on living bodies, and the effective removal of these pollutants remains a challenge. Safranin O (a biological dye) and merbromin (a topical mercury-containing antiseptic) are considered organic pollutants, and there are only a few reports on their removal. Synthesized and well-characterized (through PXRD, FTIR, FESEM, and EDS analysis) MOF-5 was used for the first time in the removal of safranin O and merbromin from simulated wastewater and real wastewater. In both cases, MOF-5 effectively removed contaminants. We found that in simulated wastewater, the highest efficiency of removal of safranin O was 53.27% (for 15 mg/L) at pH 10, and for merbromin, it was 41.49% (for 25 mg/L) at pH 6. In the case of real wastewater containing natural ions (Na+, K+, F-, Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, Mg2+, and Ca2+) and other molecules, the removal efficiencies of these two dyes decreased (34.00% and 26.28% for safranin O and merbromin, respectively) because of the presence of other ions and molecules. A plausible mechanism for the removal of these pollutants using MOF-5 was proposed.

Bio-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for cost-effective adsorption of U(vi): experimental and theoretical investigation.

U(vi) removal using cost-effective (production cost: $14.03 per kg), biocompatible, and superparamagnetic Cinnamomum tamala (CT) leaf extract-coated magnetite nanoparticles (CT@MNPs or CT@Fe3O4 nanoparticles) from water resources was studied. From pH-dependent experiments, the maximum adsorption efficiency was found to be at pH 8. Isotherm and kinetic studies were performed and found to follow Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetics, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of CT@MNPs was calculated to be 45.5 mg of U(vi) per g of nanoparticles (NPs). Recyclability studies suggest that over 94% sorption was retained even after four consecutive cycles. The sorption mechanism was explained by the point of the zero-charge experiment and the XPS measurement. Additionally, calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were carried out to support the experimental findings.

Current trends in carbon-based quantum dots development from solid wastes and their applications.

Urbanization and a massive population boom have immensely increased the solid wastes (SWs) generation and are expected to reach 3.40 billion tons by 2050. In many developed and emerging nations, SWs are prevalent in both major and small cities. As a result, in the current context, the reusability of SWs through various applications has taken on added importance. Carbon-based quantum dots (Cb-QDs) and their many variants are synthesized from SWs in a straightforward and practical method. Cb-QDs are a new type of semiconductor that has attracted the interest of researchers due to their wide range of applications, which include everything from energy storage, chemical sensing, to drug delivery. This review is primarily focused on the conversion of SWs into useful materials, which is an essential aspect of waste management for pollution reduction. In this context, the goal of the current review is to investigate the sustainable synthesis routes of carbon quantum dots (CQDs), graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) from various types SWs. The applications of CQDs, GQDs, and GOQDs in the different areas are also been discussed. Finally, the challenges in implementing the existing synthesis methods and future research directions are highlighted.

Is degradation of dyes even possible without using photocatalysts? - a detailed comparative study.

Herein, catalyst-free, eco-friendly, photo-triggered, self-degradation of malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV) dyes in comparison to photocatalytic degradation were investigated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic study to demonstrate the reactive oxygen species (ROS), electron (e-) and hole (h+) generation ability of dyes to initiate self-degradation in the presence of direct solar energy (a free source of UV radiation) and UV light (254 and 365 nm). Various experimental conditions, e.g., different dye concentrations, pH, vessel-materials (borosilicate glass and quartz) were optimized to achieve the optimum degradation outcomes. The degradation kinetics of dyes suggested the applicability of second-order-kinetics to all kinds of applied light sources. Investigation of the thermodynamic approach reveals that the self-degradation procedure was endothermic, with activation energies of 46.89 and 52.96 kJ mol-1, respectively, for MG and CV. The self-degradation mechanism was further corroborated by the quantum calculations, while the formation of final degraded products for dye-degradations was established on the basis of mass spectroscopy and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. The computed emission energies for MG and CV advocate that the excitation energy occurs due to the sole-attribution electron excitation from the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) to the Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO). The close energy difference between the hydroxyl anions and the dyes also facilitates the creation of the hydroxyl radical. In a similar manner, the excited electrons from the aforementioned dyes may readily be transferred to triplet molecular oxygen, which makes it possible to generate super oxide. The radical generated in the process facilitates the self-degradation of the dyes.

Bio-modified magnetic nanoparticles with Terminalia arjuna bark extract for the removal of methylene blue and lead (II) from simulated wastewater.

This study reports a greener, cheaper and convenient approach to synthesize Terminalia arjuna bark extract coated magnetite nanoparticles (TA@MNPs) using the co-precipitation method and efficient removal of methylene blue (MB) and lead ions [Pb(II)] from simulated wastewater. The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by various techniques such as DLS, XRD, FTIR, HRTEM, AGM, and TGA. From TGA analysis, TA@MNPs was found to be stable even after 500 °C. Using the batch method, maximum removal was achieved at pH 9.0 for MB and pH 3.0 for Pb(II) solutions, respectively. Adsorption study showed that TA@MNPs followed pseudo-second-order kinetics by both adsorbates while isotherm modeling towards adsorption of Pb(II) and MB exhibited Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity for Pb(II) on TA@MNPs was 210.5 mg g-1. The thermodynamic study proved the spontaneity of the physisorption process. Regeneration studies were also performed using five different eluents for the two adsorbents. Overall, TA@MNPs effectively removed pollutants from wastewater and thus could be potentially useful in providing clean water in a cheaper way.

Silver-Based Nanomaterials as Therapeutic Agents Against Coronaviruses: A Review.

Since the identification of the first human coronavirus in the 1960s, a total of six coronaviruses that are known to affect humans have been identified: 229E, OC43, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), NL63, HKU1, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Presently, the human world is affected by a novel version of the coronavirus family known as SARS-CoV-2, which has an extremely high contagion rate. Although the infection fatality rate (IFR) of this rapidly spreading virus is not high (ranging from 0.00% to 1.54% across 51 different locations), the increasing number of infections and deaths has created a worldwide pandemic situation. To provide therapy to severely infected patients, instant therapeutic support is urgently needed and the repurposing of already approved drugs is presently in progress. In this regard, the development of nanoparticles as effective transporters for therapeutic drugs or as alternative medicines is highly encouraged and currently needed. The size range of the viruses is within 60-140 nm, which is slightly larger than the diameters of nanoparticles, making nanomaterials efficacious tools with antiviral properties. Silver-based nanomaterials (AgNMs) demonstrate antimicrobial and disinfectant effects mostly by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are presently considered as a versatile tool for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Other metal-based nanoparticles have been primarily reported as delivery agents or surface modifying agents, vaccine adjuvant against coronavirus. The present review summarizes and discusses the possible effectiveness of various surface-modified AgNMs against animal coronaviruses and presents a concept for AgNM-based therapeutic treatment of SARS-CoV-2 in the near future.

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Natural Product Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Wastewater Treatment.

Adsorption of organic pollutants, toxic metal ions, and removal of harmful bacteria can give us clean and pure drinkable water from wastewater resources. Respective magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized using a cheaper and greener way in an open-air environment with the use of crude latex of Jatropha curcas (JC) and leaf extract of Cinnamomum tamala (CT). Characterization of MNPs had been performed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powdered X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The size ranges of the synthesized MNPs were observed in between 20-42 nm for JC-Fe3O4 and within 26-35 nm for CT-Fe3O4 by FE-SEM images. The effect of synthesized magnetic nanoparticles in wastewater treatment (bacterial portion), dye adsorption, toxic metal removal as well as antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities were studied. This purification will lead to an increase in the resources of pure drinking water in the future.

Type 2 diabetes and influence of diabetes-specific distress on depression.

AIMS: Common psycho-social emotional reactions of patients with diabetes may be termed as diabetes-specific distress which is conceptually distinctive from depression. In patients with type 2 diabetes, different screening methods for depression may get influenced by simultaneous presence of diabetes distress. This study was planned to assess magnitude and relationship of depression and diabetes specific distress in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty (250) adult patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were assessed for depression based on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth edition (DSM IV) criteria. Diabetes specific distress was assessed as per Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) score. RESULTS: Among study population of 250 adult T2DM patients, based on BDI score, 97 (38.8%) patients were found to suffer from depression and based on DSM IV criteria, prevalence of depression was 29.2%. A total of 62 (24.8%) patients were found to suffer from diabetes specific distress based on DDS score. Patients with severe diabetes specific distress had associated matching of symptoms with mild depression based on BDI score which was also statistically significant (p < 0.0001). However, these same individuals were non-depressed as per DSM-IV criteria. CONCLUSION: Recognizing depression with self-administered questionnaires may be influenced by concomitant presence of symptoms due to diabetes specific distress. Therefore, proper diagnosis of depression may be established by structured clinical interview and psycho-social management of type 2 diabetes should possibly include both assessment of depression and diabetes specific distress.

Comparison of Effectiveness and Safety of Add-on Therapy of Saroglitazar and Fenofibrate with Metformin in Indian Patients with Diabetic Dyslipidaemia.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic dyslipidaemia poses a therapeutic challenge. New therapies have emerged in this patient subgroup to enhance outcome and improve compliance. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of add on therapy of saroglitazar and fenofibrate with metformin in Indian patients with diabetic dyslipidaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults patients with diabetic dyslipidaemia fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomized in two groups. Group A patients received metformin (1000 mg/ day) and fenofibrate (160 mg/day) while group B patients received metformin (1000 mg/day) and saroglitazar (4 mg/day). Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C), triglyceride (TG), LDL- cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were measured at baseline and week 12 visits. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and post prandial plasma glucose (PPPG) were measured at baseline and on week 4, 8 and 12 visits. RESULTS: TG and HbA1C levels decreased significantly at week 12 from their respective baseline values (p< 0.05) in both groups. FPG and PPPG levels significantly decreased at weeks 4, 8 and 12 compared to their pretreatment values (p< 0.05) in both groups. TG and HbA1C levels in group B decreased significantly compared to group A at week 12. FPG and PPPG levels in group B also decreased significantly compared to group A at every interval. Inter group analysis did not show any statistically significant change in body weight, LDL-C and HDL-C at week 12. CONCLUSION: Add on therapy of saroglitazar with metformin significantly decreased TG, HbA1C, FPG and PPPG levels compared to add on therapy of fenofibrate with metformin in Indian patients with diabetic dyslipidaemia.

An observational study of cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care Hospital of Eastern India.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus and its impact on the human body have been extensively dissected over the years. However, skin which is the largest organ in the body, has received minimum attention. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze the prevalence and pattern of skin disorders among diabetic patients from Eastern region of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational study, conducted in the General Medicine and Endocrinology departments of a Medical College and Hospital in Eastern India. The data were collected prospectively and systematically in a pre-established proforma designed by us, where clinical findings along with investigations were recorded. RESULTS: Six hundred and eighty (680) diabetic patients were examined, there were (64.8%) male and (35.1%) were female, of them 95.3% were Type 2 diabetics while 4.7% were Type 1. Five hundred and three patients (503) out of six hundred and eighty. i.e. 73.9% were found to have skin lesions. Thirteen (13) (41%) Type1 diabetics demonstrated skin lesions commonest being diabetic xerosis, infections and diabetic hand. Among Type2 diabetics 490(75.61%) showed skin lesions. Here infections, xerosis, hair loss beneath the knees, diabetic dermopathy were the most frequent. Majority of patients (67%) had combination of more than one type of skin lesion. There was statistically significant correlation of skin lesions with duration of diabetes, however similar correlation could not be demonstrated regarding metabolic control. CONCLUSION: Involvement of skin is inevitable and multifarious in diabetes mellitus. Higher prevalence is seen in Type 2 diabetic population. The duration of diabetes is positively correlated with lesions and infective dermatologic manifestations were associated with higher HbA1C values.

An unusual case of episodic quadriparesis.

The natural history of untreated asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) remains incompletely understood. Increased level of parathyroid hormone produces the characteristic biochemical phenotype of hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and the various clinical sequelae of chronic hypercalcemia. Periodic paralysis (PP) is a group of disorders of different etiologies with episodic, short-lived and hyporeflexic skeletal muscle weakness, with or without myotonia, but without sensory deficit and without loss of consciousness. However, PHPT has rare association with episodic quadriparesis mimicking as PP.

Polyion-counterion interactions in sodium carboxymethylcellulose-ethylene glycol-water ternary solutions.

Polyion-counterion interactions in sodium carboxymethylcellulose-ethylene glycol-water ternary system have been investigated with special reference to their variations with the polyelectrolyte concentration, the medium relative permittivity and the temperature using electrical conductance measurements. The experimental data have been analyzed on the basis of a model for semidilute polyelectrolyte conductivity which takes into account the scaling arguments proposed by Dobrynin et al. Concentration-dependent moderate counterion condensation (24-33%) was observed. Counterion condensation is found to be spontaneous which depends upon the EG-content of the medium and the temperature. A major proportion of the current is transported by the carboxymethylcellulose polyions. The results further demonstrated that the monomer units experience more frictional resistance in solution as the EG-content increases or as the temperature decreases.

Unusual presentation of Klinefelter syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Klinefelter syndrome usually presents in the puberty and adulthood with its characteristic features. We report a boy who had Klinefelter syndrome with hypospadias and hydrocele. CASE NOTE: Six and half year old boy had complaints of genitourinary problem in the form of hypospadias, small phallus and hydrocele. Karyotyping showed 47,XXY. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates that Klinefelter syndrome was presented in the infancy with hypospadias and hydrocele which are very uncommon presentation of the disease.

A descriptive study of hyponatremia in a tertiary care hospital of Eastern India.

BACKGROUND: Hyponatremia is one of the commonest electrolyte disturbances encountered in medical wards and contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality. However, early recognition and management drastically alters prognosis. Therefore, this observational study was taken up to explore the clinical profile of hyponatremia. AIM: To assess the incidence and clinical profile of hyponatremia in medically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational study was conducted in the medical ward of a tertiary care hospital from March 2010 to April 2011. All patients underwent routine hemogram, blood biochemistry, serum electrolytes, thyroid function tests, and morning serum cortisol estimation. This was followed by a plasma and urinary osmolality determination (osmometer 800 CL) as well as urinary sodium estimation. Patients were diagnosed to have syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) if they satisfied the Bartter and Schwartz criteria. RESULTS: 201 patients (16.4%) had a serum Na < 135 meq/l. There were 126 (62.69%) male patients and 75 (37.31%) female patients. Severe hyponatremia (Na < 120 meq/l) was detected in 30 patients (2.4%). The largest group of hyponatremic patients were euvolemic [102 (50.74%)], followed by hypervolemic [54 (26.86%)] and hypovolemic [45 (22.4%)]. Sixty-six patients fulfilled the criteria for SIADH. The most common underlying predisposing factor for hyponatremia in our case series was fluid loss by vomiting/diarrhea. During the hospital stay, 13.5% (15/201) hyponatremic patients died, while the corresponding figure in normonatremic patients was 8.5% (87/1020). CONCLUSION: The incidence of hyponatremia in our series was higher than values mostly reported in western literature. Euvolemic hyponatremia was the most common type, a significant fraction of which is SIADH.

Etiology of anemia in primary hypothyroid subjects in a tertiary care center in Eastern India.

INTRODUCTION: The association of anemia with primary hypothyroidism has been common knowledge for many years. However; its pathogenesis is far from clear in many cases. Often the causes of anemia are manifold. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated the causes of anemia in patients with primary hypothyroidism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty adult nonpregnant untreated primary hypothyroid patients with anemia without any obvious cause were included. All patients were subjected to full medical history, clinical examination, biochemical and imaging studies. Serum iron profile, vitamin B12, folic acid, anti parietal cell antibody, anti TPO antibody, bone marrow study, and stool for occult blood, Coomb's test, HPLC for hemoglobinopathies and complete hemogram with reticulocyte count were done and analyzed. RESULTS: Normocytic, normochromic anemia was present in 31 patients (51.6%) followed by microcytic anemia in 26 patients (43.3%). Six patients (10%) had megaloblastic anemia with vitamin B12 deficiency including 3 cases of pernicious anemia. Two patients had combined deficiency of iron and vitamin B12. CONCLUSION: Normocytic normochromic anemia with normal bone marrow was commonest type of anemia in this study, followed by iron deficiency anemia.

A case of normotensive pheochromocytoma with management dilemma.

INTRODUCTION: We report an unusual case of normotensive pheochromocytoma detected incidentally, presenting a pre-operative management problem. CASE NOTE: A 40-year-old lady with vague abdominal symptoms was initially discovered with a left adrenal incidentaloma by ultrasound abdomen, which was also revealed in computed tomography (CT). After exclusion of all the causes with possible necessary investigations, pheochromocytoma was confirmed with elevated 24 hour urinary metanephrine and normetanephrine. Her blood pressure was in low to normotensive range all throughout. She was attempted to be prepared with combined alpha and beta blockade but could not tolerate this regimen due to symptomatic hypotension. Subsequently, surgical preparation was planned cautiously with alpha-adenergic blockade only. With intensive monitoring, she underwent uneventful left adrenalectomy, and surgical pathology was consistent with pheochromocytoma. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates an unusual presentation of normotensive pheochromocytoma as adrenal incidentaloma. Pre-operative preparation in these patients can be achieved with alpha-adrenergic blockade, adequate hydration, and liberal salt intake.

A case of dyskeratosis congenita with primary amenorrhea and adenocarcinoma of stomach.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare disease characterized by hyperpigmentation, nail dystrophy and mucous membrane abnormality. Commonly occurring in males, the patients die young usually due to bone marrow suppression. Malignancies of various descriptions have been reported in this disease, the commonest being solid tumors of head/neck (squamous cell carcinoma). We report the case of a female patient with DC, who presented to us with severe wasting and primary amenorrhea and died of carcinoma stomach in our hospital 3 weeks later.